RSIPF boosts security at quarantine sites following first positive COVID-19 case

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is boosting static security at the two quarantine stations where the repatriated Solomon Islands students from the Philippines are accommodated as the Government declared the first positive COVID-19 case in the country this afternoon.
The positive case is a male student who had been repatriated from the Philippines earlier this week.

RSIPF will boost security at the Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) east of Honiara and the Chengs accommodation opposite the King George Sixth National Secondary School in east Honiara.

“Four police officers will be stationed at each of the two quarantine stations 24/7 to ensure quarantine regulations at the stations are strictly adhered to. Unfortunately we now have the virus in our country so all efforts are now underway to contain it from spreading,” says Assistant Commissioner, Simpson Pogeava, who is RSIPF’s COVID-19 Operation Commander.

AC Pogeava adds, “The current arrangements will be assessed as we go along and if there is a need to further boost the security at the two quarantine stations then the RSIPF Executive will make a decision on that.”

“RSIPF appeals to those communities near the two quarantine stations to keep well away from them. Relatives of the students quarantined at the stations are strongly urged to stay away from the stations and do not attempt to break any of the quarantine regulations. Any person or group of people breaching the quarantine regulations will be arrested and charged.”

AC Pogeava explains, “At this stage the Government has not declared any lockdown following the declaration of the first positive COVID-19 case so the public is encouraged to continue with life as normal. Police will continue with its normal frontline policing tasks to ensure law and order is maintained in Honiara and the rest of the country.”

“Do not spread any rumours that will trigger a sense of panic among our communities. Listen to information from the government authorities who are dealing with the current situation.”

“Let us all assist the government authorities dealing with the current situation to contain the outbreak of the virus and eliminate it from our communities. Let us observe the messages that have been sent out by our authorities by adhering to the health hygiene protocols such as social distancing and regular handwashing,” says AC Pogeava.